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GIRLS SOCCER: Newsome Remains Undefeated

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 16, 2007

GIBSONTON – Newsome made one key adjustment in the nine days since winning 3-0 against Durant on Nov. 6. In preparation for Thursday night's match against East Bay, Wolves coach Kelly Townsend said something was apparent in Newsome's practices. It wasn't something wrong with the team, but a change needed to be made.

That change was simply moving sophomore backup goal keeper Hanna Rainey to forward. With less then a minute left in the first half of Newsome's match at East Bay that move paid off as senior defender Rudi Rodriguez made a smooth pass to Rainey who drilled in a shot into the back of the net after breaking away from the Indians' defense.

"Hannah is a play maker," Townsend said. "She is going to be a key asset to our team up top."

The lone goal kept Newsome (3-0) undefeated and handed East Bay (4-1) its first loss of the season 1-0.

"(Hannah) is our backup keeper no more," Townsend said. "The last week and a half she has showed she is a hard worker, is conditioned and has the foot skills to be on the field."

The conditions Thursday night were less then ideal with the wind playing tricks on any ball off of the ground. This condition seemed apparent as East Bay seemed to control the ball on Newsome's side for much of the first half. East Bay's best chance for a goal came after a ball went off goal keeper Kendall Graham and fell right to a waiting Indians' forward Brittany Cox. Cox made a solid effort toward the goal from inside the box, but Graham recovered knocking the ball away diving to her left. The Wolves goal came late in the first half as referee's kept the injury time on the field.

In the second half, the wind advantage went to the Wolves, who had six shots on goal but weren't able to add anything to the scoreboard. Andrea Owens had six saves in the game for East Bay, but the Indians offense wasn't able to find the goal with only two shots on goal in the second half – one saved by Graham and one knocked away by Newsome's defense.

"I knew I wanted us to be against the wind first and with the wind in the second half," Townsend said. "We've traditionally been a second half team."

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